Christmas Jars

http://christmasjars.com/index.html

A link to the back story since most are probably not yet familiar with the story.
Very cute and thoughtful idea.

I saw a video interview with the author, and he said something along the lines of  " the money will only last for a little while, but those memories, they're going to remember that day for the rest of their lives"

So true.
I have just today for the first time heard about this new trend. And have never been on the receiving or giving end of this... yet. I think it is a wonderful thing to do, to teach your family to remember God's grace and generosity all year long, and to spread that love with a gift, one that there is no glory from, no Thank you, no I got this from so & so... just pure love and knowing that you made a difference, even if no one else knows it.

It reminds me of when I was a child, perhaps about 3 or 4? I am not sure how old I was, but to me it is a very similar story... Our family has always been "less fortunate" in monetary wealth. It was definitely hard at times. Very hard. Especially around Christmas I am sure for my parents.
Five kids, and rent and all the other necessities, my parents struggled that they could not afford a Christmas Tree. Trivial, and foolish to some I am sure. But it was tradition in our house to have a REAL Christmas Tree. The smell of that pine, the rustle of the needles, it was something that my parents always tried to do.
I have actually tried to do the same for my family, unfortunately with how expensive real trees have become, it is just ... sadly not likely to ever become reality in my household. Makes me sad.

But, as the author of The Christmas Jars' statement, I will never forget the day from my story here.
I couldn't tell you for sure WHAT day it was, it may have been Christmas Eve that this occurred on, forgive me, I was only 4, maybe.
But, as I said, we could not afford a tree that year, and we were all pretty bummed about it.
We were coming to terms with it.
But that morning when my parents were in the kitchen for their morning coffee, they happened to see a strange sight out the kitchen window in the back yard... A tree that certainly had not been there before, and was in fact, a gift from a stranger.
Our own little Christmas miracle.
It had snowed the night before (living in northern WI, it snowed plenty, and often) The tree most assuredly was not there the night before.
We searched for footprints, but there was none to be found... the tree had not a flake of snow on it, so it could not have been placed there before the storm had come through, so... it was even more strange to not see any foot prints in the snow... I thought for sure for years and years that my parents had come up with the money and placed the tree there themselves, but just brought it through the house and placed it out the back door while us kids were asleep...
But I have talked to them about it as an adult, and they still hold true to their having no involvement other than seeing it when they were getting their morning caffeine fix...
It was as if an Angel had hovered over that spot and made it magically appear.
No foot prints, no note, no nothing... no indication that it had been brought through the house, and no indication that footprints had been wiped away in the snow either... I am still stumped by it today over 20 years later (wow that makes me feel old) and I still remember it like it was just last Christmas, if not yesterday.
I couldn't tell you one single toy or present that myself or anyone else received that year, but the gift of that tree I will remember when I am senile.

A lesson learned early in my life, and I have always tried to carry out myself, random acts of kindness, are worth so much more than you know.  You touch the lives of those affected by it forever.
So, in conclusion, teach your family the tradition of kindness. Not just at Christmas. But always.
I can tell you from experience too, it feels just as good to be the one giving the blessing as it does receiving it.

I love that this book has started the trend of something that we as a people have long forgotten, do onto others... and that kindness isn't something that you do for kindness in return. Kindness is something that we do because it's who we SHOULD be. Always.

...

Do you find yourself wondering sometimes.... what the destination of life really is?
I do.
I like to let my mind meander about...
I wonder, if more people would just ponder, instead of worry, we'd all be a lot happier.
Life doesn't have to be a serious thing. But we all seem to make it such.
I like to do my best to keep it at least kind... As in I try to always be kind to everyone. I know there's many times I fail, and even times I outright blow that out of the water and jump into a full on tactical strike of mean-ness it seems like.
But, I like to think I do a pretty good job of being a kind person, and an even better job at teaching my children to be kind as well.
But then I also find myself wondering then, if this is the sort of person that I am, why is it that I can't seem to hold onto friends?
Or to make friends easily?
I wonder if the people I am around think that I am one of those fake shell sort of people that are sooo super sweet to your face, but really just a rotten bitch when it all boils down...
I'd like to ask them... but I don't think that people would be honest.

I don't really have a point to this post. This is all it really is, I just meandered over here to my little bloggy, and decided to start writing.

Please then folks, if you know me, leave a comment, tell me the truth. The might hurt to hear it, or warm your soul to know it truth.

And no, I am NOT one of those "everybody's gotta love me" kind of people... I just don't understand, I think I have friends, then when it comes down to it... I do, I have some amazing friends... but turns out it's just not like I thought, that I have many friends, nope... I've got 3. Sometimes a girl needs more than 3 pals.

Ick ick, sick sick...

Me and the munchkins have been disgustingly sick since Thursday. Severe diarrhea and vomiting isn't fun to begin with. But then having to be sick and watch your babies suffering too, all the while being too ill to do even so much as comfort them. Really makes ya feel like a bad momma. I had nearly 2 whole days in there where I couldn't even nurse the baby. :(
Me and the big girl still aren't back to tip top, getting there.
Thanks to Josh taking such good care of us all. And my mom coming in to help out so he didn't have to miss any more work or school.
Not too sure why we both got so violently ill... but it's all too coincidental that we both were getting better, and took some probiotic gummies I just got from Target last week... and got sick again. ... trying so so hard to remember what day we first took the vitamins, and if it was for more than one day or not, because I think it's quite likely we got ill from them...
My backside is far too pained to test that theory... I feel comfortable enough with the assumption it was them... and will be getting my money back.

Stick with what you know folks... and what I know, is that for vitamins, especially probiotics, I'm happiest with Natures Sunshine Products. They're the best there is, why do anything different?

Well, baby is done with her  'midnight snack' so I should be off to sleep now as well. Just figured I'd do a quick check in. :) night.

mom gets it

I'm in that phase of Motherhood right now, that if there's no poop in my hair, it's a hair-do...
Of course we all know the "my kids look better and more put together than I do" Phase, which is the Bigger picture of the no-poop= hair-do phase...
And there's also of course, the breastfeeding mother phase, where we try and we try to be "polite'' and modest, and keep those things tucked away and hidden from the world... and we try to nurse in private or under a cover all incognito like...
Then there comes the phase where you just have to say... "too bad world, I've got stripper boobs and you'll just have to deal with it" And stop stressing over *I can't wear this shirt around family/friends/coworkers because it's too revealing*
Chances are anyhow, they're honestly NOT going to even notice, they won't see them... Yes my dears, they ARE Ninja Boobs... those bad boys were in front of you the whole time, and the only reason you know about it now is I pointed it out/showed you a photo etc...
If you start to feel uncomfortable, like everyone is staring at your lady lumps... give your 3 y/o some sugar to create a diversion and quick find a napkin to tuck in like a bib... no one will be suspicious... promise.
Or if sugar isn't an option, just use the nearest child like a shield to protect your chesticles...

Just an ordinary Monday.

Nothing special of a day. Saw this cute cridder on my window on the way to see the Dr yet again... I swear it makes trip #6 for the last week...

All in all everyone is healthy... don't know that anyone of us is too happy lately. But thats just life. Right?

I've been stressing over not being able to go back to work, but needing to... the girls being sick/not well, the neighbors being horrible trolls, the house being messy etc etc
My stress seems to be never ending. Trying my best to let go of the stress and keep my faith and hope in the Lord. I'm terrible at that thouh.
And I know it.

Best thing thats happened... like ever, Elaina comes to me and says "Mommy, you're and excellent Mommy" and then later after that tells me " you are a good Mommy to Me''
I damn near cried I love her so much.

And he wonders why...

Wonders why I am constantly frustrated with him...
He leaves huge messes all over and disappears off to bed, to work to school... for a fishing weekend.
What do I get to do day in and day out every single day?
Feed, clothe, bathe, potty/diaper the children, tend to the dishes, the laundry and the messes. All by myself.
And get treated like somehow I should be doing better or different. Like I should be a stepford mom/wife.
Shit. Thats all I feel like saying. It is 4am after all, and I haven't slept yet.

Keeping it in order

So.. I am probably THE LEAST organized person I have ever met...
But once and again I have a few good ideas how to do a little better.
My latest duh idea is this:
Since I have kids, and they are young, and growing and growing by the millisecond, and I am beginning to lose track of what clothes fit and what doesn't anymore.. I figure it's probably helpful to keep a box/bin/tote etc in their room (or the room where they get dressed/undressed etc) for the items that are too small, and need to ether be packed away, or donated.
When I had just one child it was much easier for me to just know when I was putting laundry away what was too small and what was just right. My *Husband* can't keep track of the things that fit him, let alone any of the kids.
SO, I will be starting this right soon, and hopefully it will put an end, or at least minimize the clothes going into the drawers and closets that don't fit anymore.

If anyone else tries this, or has been doing it for years, leave a comment, and let me know how it works for you... do you use a fancied up box/tote etc? Or just a plain ol' brown box??